REM GLEN HELEN MOTOCROSS: GIANT ACTION PHOTO GALLERY

On Aug 21, 2019Last updated Aug 21, 2019

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It appears that Marc Crosby forgot his lucky rabbit’s foot and turned around mid-moto to go back to the pits to get it, but Marc is cresting a rise heading in the proper direction, while the riders behind him are on a completely different part of the track. Photo: Jon Ortner

The REM motocross race at Glen Helen this past Saturday was the last race for awhile because after this weekend they will be taking a four-week break. Everybody wanted to get in one more race before the drought. Last week’s track was a big hit among the racers and REM made sure that Glen Helen’s John Allen prepped it perfectly for this weekend. What follows is a giant photo gallery of this week’s motocross action with photos by Debbi Tamietti—aided by Dan Alamangos, Jon Ortner and Mark Donaldson (between their own races).

You would think that racers would stay away from the giant heavy equipment tires that line some of the corners, but the scrape marks in the white paint tell a different story. Kurt Nicoll cuts it close. Photo: Jon Ortner

At Glen Helen, whether on the REM track or the National track, you can never forget where you are. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Steve Butler and Dan Alamangos are two-thirds of one of the Australian teams that will race at the World Cup at the 2019 World Vet on November 3. Each nation can enter three, three-man teams, but each team must include an Over-30, Over-40 and Over-50 rider. If they can’t find an over-30 rider they can name an Over-40 or Over-50 rider to race in the Over-30 class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

This is the first moto of the Over-50 Expert class—with John Griffin leading and Steve Butler (left), Dan Alamangos (center) and Ron Shuler (right) in hot pursuit. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Dan Almanagos encourages fellow MXA test rider Josh Fout (74) to catch up to his friend Alan Jullien. The line between friendships is often blurred during a race. We would bet that had Alan been chasing Josh, Dan would have encouraged him to make the pass. Photo: Jon Ortner

Husqvarna’s Andy Jefferson always has a smile — which is good because you don’t want to make him angry. Photo: Jon Ortner

Pasha Afshar co-stars in the “Bennett’s War” motocross-themed Hollywood movie. As you would imagine he plays the bad guy. The movie opens on August 30. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

KTM’s David O’Connor’s “almost a works bike” KTM 250SXF chases Pasha Afshar’s TM 300MX two-stroke.David will race for Team Ireland at the November 3 World Cup. Behind them is Duncan Crerar (4) from Dubai. Photo: Jon Ortner

Robert Reisinger (96) launches down Mount Whitney in pursuit to Jeff Fitzgerald (875). Reisinger would finish second in the both the Over-40 Experts and Over-50 Elite classes. Fitzgerald was second in the 450 Intermediates. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Nick Reisinger (60) did everything in his power to get his Husqvarna stopped before hitting the fallen Kayden Fillhart. In the end, they both fell but got up and continued on. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Jonah Brittons (33) logs some serious flight time. From this view he can see Brian Medeiros and Kurt Nicol in the corner at the bottom of the hill. Photo: Dan Alamangos

Lance Sloane (124) had a solid day in the Over-50 Novice class and ended up second overall. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Cole Zitterkopf, son of famous ATK racer and two-time World World Four-Stroke Champion (1989-1990) Greg Zitterkopf, won the 250 Pro class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Earl Shuler was a well-known desert racer in the 1970s, who moved on to doing suspension for the most famous off-road racers. His son Ron is heavily into motocross and has focused ESR (Earl Shuler Racing) on motocross. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Between 450 Pro Brian Medeiros and Over-50 Intermediate winner Wayne Rhoden (7) Hawaii was well represented at REM. Once an independent nation, Hawaii could field a pretty good team for Glen Helen’s World Cup Vet race in November—but then Texas was an independent nation once also. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Randel Fout (61) one-fingers the clutch on the inside line at the bottom of the biggest downhill. Photo: Jon Ortner Debbi Tamietti Dan Alamangos Mark Donaldson

Kent Reed (491) took three months off, but came back to score a 4-4 day in the Over-60 Intermediates and said he was happy to keep winner Phil Cruz, second place Steven Chandler and third place Duane Joice “in sight.” Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Chuck Cook (827) finished third in the Over-50 Novice class with a 4-3 score. Here, he is chased by Kyle Allison (126). Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Marc Crosby is the “Dentist of the Motocross Stars.” Sitting in his waiting room is like being in the pits at a Supercross, but with more Novacaine. Photo: Mark Donaldson

Bob Rutten (83) went 2-2 in the Over-60 Expert class. There were thirty Over-60 racers on the starting line at REM. That is a lot of old dudes at one local race. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Trevor Stewart wheelying away from the 450 Pro’s. The top five was Cole Tompkins second, Todd Sibell third, Brian Medeiros fourth and Jonah Brittons fifth. Photo: Debbi TamiettiYou’d think that a guy as well-connected as Jody Weisel would have a fancy a gear bag, a T-shirt that wasn’t 40 years old, modern plastic boots and a new hat.

Rich Stuelke is a former High School principal who took up racing when he retired. He often races two days a week with REM and the Old Timers Association. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Mesa, Arizona’s Scott Boek made the trip to Glen Helen for the cool weather and a chance to race the Over-40 Novice class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Glenn Pietronico pulls off a classic slide job. Glenn finished 4th in the first moto of the Over-50 Intermediates, but after the checkers he chased another rider though the pits after the race to yell at him. You don’t do that at REM. REM Frank promoter Thomason told Glenn he couldn’t race his second moto. Glenn did apologise profusely, but REM is tough. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

You probably remember Mark Donaldson from “The Bourne Identity,” but if you do then Mark did something wrong because his job was to double for actor Chris Cooper and do his stunts…but never to be recognised as anyone but the actor. Mark was 6th in the Over-60 Experts. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

MEN AT WORK: MXA TEST RIDERS AT WORK (AND PLAY)

MXA tests its bikes by racing them. Every week we ride the bikes on Wednesday and Thursday (this past week on Milestone Tuesday and Pala on Wednesday) and then apply what we learned by taking seven test riders of all skill levels to race at REM on Saturday. Above is AMA Pro Brian Medeiors on MXA’s Husqvarna FC450. Photo: Jon Ortner

MXA has taped instruction of how to use the electronic buttons on the 2020 Honda CRF450 on the crossbar pad. There are so many settings that the test riders need a crib sheet to tell them how to engage the maps (3), launch control (4) and traction control (4) buttons. Photo: Dan Alamangos

Marc Crosby (66) and Luc DeLey (66) raced the 2019 KTM 250SXF and 2020 KTM 250SXF back to back to gauge how they compared. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Jon Ortner (94) was hot to ride the 2020 Yamaha YZ450F and went with us to Milestone and Glen Helen (not to mention the “Bennett’s War” movie premier and to Jody’s house to watch the Nationals after Saturday’s REM race). He did provide invaluable test info about the changes to the 2020 YZ450F. Jon won the Over-50 Elite class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Josh Fout (94) was assigned to race the YZ450F, which also meant baby sitting Jon Ortner between motos—MXA’s 2020 YZ450F was raced in three classes on Saturday. Josh won the Open Vet class Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Jody Weisel (94) also raced the 2020 YZ450F. Here, Mike King (46) and Jody looked like a page out of the O’Neal catalog. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Last week Randel Fout (61) was assigned to test black boxes on the 2020 KTM 250SXF, but this week he was moved to the 2020 Kawasaki KX250. Photo: Mark Donaldson

Dan Alamangos (55) split his time between shooting photos, hanging out with fellow Aussie Steve Butler and racing MXA’s 2020 Husqvarna FC350. Dan was third in the Over-50 Experts. Photo: Mark Donaldson